The most head-turning performance clearly was FSU’s 51-14 victory, which lifted the Seminoles from No. 5 to No. 3, as they leapfrogged No. 4 Ohio State and replaced the team they defeated in the poll. Seminoles redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston strengthened his Heisman Trophy case by throwing for 444 yards and three touchdowns.

The only stability was at the very top of the rankings, where No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Oregon registered easy victories and continue to cruise through their schedules. Alabama received 55 first-place votes, Oregon grabbed 3 and Florida State snapped up 2.

The Tigers gained a stronghold in the SEC East, as all their division rivals have at least two losses. Missouri, which won’t have senior quarterback James Franklin (shoulder) for at least two more weeks, didn’t miss a beat with Mauk, a redshirt freshman making his first start. After consecutive losses, Florida dropped out of the rankings.